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To return to our settlers of New Canaan, whom we have traced to
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Readings In New Canaan History
their abodes here; they had gradually spread through the valleys and over the ridges, and increased to such a degree, that they felt the want of some organization for the development of their social and public relations. This led to the incorporation of "Canaan Parish." The first notice of it on the Stamford Records, is dated December 8th, 1730, when "John Bouton and others, ask liberty of moving out of town, to join with a part of Norwalk in order to be a society." The town voted in the negative. Still, the next year, we find the town of Stam- ford appointing John Bouton and Ebenezer Seeley, tything men, for the new Society and designating their field of service Canaan parish. Two years after, "the town agree that there shall be a committee chosen to agree with those men that have land lying where it may be thought needful for a highway for the conveniency of Canaan parish to go to meeting." Of the twenty-four members constituting the first church, eleven were from Stamford, and two of these, John Bouton and Thomas Talmadge were its first deacons. There seems to have been no objection to the new parish on the part of Norwalk. April 3d, 1732, the proprietors "by major vote, grant to the Inhab- itants of Canaan parish all the common land where their meeting- house standeth." The parish was incorporated by the Legislature in 1731. The first Society's meeting was held July Ist, 1731, and the record of their acts is complete, in legible handwriting and in good preservation. The next year there were forty-seven members, thirty on the Norwalk and seventeen on the Stamford side. The first ques- tion discussed by them, was the expediency of building a meeting house for the public worship of God. Decided in the affirmative, twenty-four to one. They were unable to agree upon the place where the building should be erected - and they appointed a suitable person to represent them in the general court to be held in October, to request the Honorable Assembly to appoint a committee to fix a place for the house. It was decided that the house should be built on the lower end of Haines' Ridge, the house to be thirty feet square, and of a height suitable for one tier of galleries. A building committee was appointed who were either to let out the work, "by the great," or hire men by the day. They levied a tax of ten pence on the pound in the List. Then follows a list of members with their assessments. In February 1732, they appointed a committee to make application to the Rev. Elders of the county for advice and direction in order to the
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A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan
calling and settlement of a minister. They were directed to Rev. John Eells, of Milford, who preached among them nine months on probation, and in June, 1733, was settled among them as their min- ister, residing on Clapboard Hills. After this time, the Society's meet- ings were devoted to such business as devolves upon it at the present day, with several items which are now managed by the town, such as taking charge of the schools, laying out highways, etc. Their meet- ings were commonly warned to be held at "sun two hours high at night." Clocks and watches were probably not common, and we find an appropriation of two shillings-nine pence to buy an hour-glass. At this time, all inhabitants of the parish were members, and were taxed for its support; it is not strange that some should have been restive and sought release. One member petitioned the legislature to that effect, but met there a committee from the Society, who suc- cessfully opposed the petition. They assessed themselves as high as nineteen pence on the pound and collected it by "stress," if necessary. The building of the meeting-house was a severe draught on their slender resources. As the expenses of the Society were defrayed by tax, the seats were common property, but the Society was accus- tomed to "seat the meeting house," as it was termed, according to "rate and dignity." By vote, they gave Rev. Eells the seat next to the pulpit, on the woman's side. Similar seating of the meeting houses, appear in the records of Stamford and Norwalk. It was the custom to appoint some person to "set the psalm." And in 1739 they voted to "sing by rule, or that which is called the new way in the congre- gation." Huntington says, "this change from the old to the new way of singing had been introduced in 1721. The eight or nine tunes brought over by the pioneers had become barbarously perverted," and the Rev. Thomas Walter, of Roxbury, Mass., composer, in that year published, "The Grounds and Rules of Music Explained, or an Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note." The book contained twenty-four tunes harmonized in three parts.
After six years' "experience" (as it was termed) with Mr. Eells, some began to be dissatisfied, and in 1740 the Society appointed a committee to acquaint Mr. Eells and see if he would give his consent to have a vote tried to see "who is easy and who is uneasy" with him. The test showed twenty-four uneasy. In 1741, Mr. Eells, was dis- missed. Tradition assigns to him ability, learning and piety, together
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Readings In New Canaan History
with certain eccentricities deemed inconsistent in a minister of the Gospel. He continued to reside here until his death, in 1785. The Society proceeded promptly to fill his place. The Rev. Robert Silliman was ordained February, 1742. During his ministry, there was such increase in the congregation as to require an addition to the meeting-house, eleven feet on each end and twelve feet on the south side. They also built a Society house north of the meeting-house twenty-one by sixteen feet, with seven foot posts. This was probably to accomodate those who came to meeting from a distance, and was furnished with a fire-place, where they might spend the time between services, the meeting-house being without any device for heating. In 1750, the Society resolved to build a new meeting-house fifty feet by forty, with one tier of galleries and turret (belfry.) This structure was so far advanced as to be deemed fit for use in 1752, though the galleries were not made until 1787. In '97, the turret was completed and the first bell obtained, which was to be rung, not only on the Sabbath, but also at nine o'clock every evening except Saturday. The new house was built a short distance north of the old one and about 1 50 feet south east of the present building. For ninety years it was in constant use as a place of worship. Every Sabbath, Thanksgiving and Fast day its courts were well filled with devout worshippers, and by many of us now assembled in this, its comely successor, the memory of the old meeting-house will ever be hallowed. It was built in the style quite common in that day, precisely like the one then in Stam- ford, except that the latter had a spire that rose from the ground. Opening the double doors, on the south side, we entered an area of small square pews, whose floors were elevated about eight inches above the floor of the central portion of the room. This latter was at first filled with slips on each side of the center or broad aisle, leading up to the pulpit. A narrow aisle passed quite around these slips fur- nishing access to the pews which occupied the entire walls except where the doors, on the east, the south and the west sides; the stairs leading to the galleries at the corners, and the pulpit at the center of the north side occupied the space. The slips in the center were after- wards, (in 1808) converted into square pews. The galleries were deep, filled with square pews along the south wall, and elsewhere with the long slips. The choir was ranged along the front and sometimes extended nearly the entire length of the galleries, the base on the
A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan 25
west, the treble on the east and the tenor or "counter," with the leader on the south. The pulpit was an hexagonal structure, placed upon a pillar, about eight feet above the floor, and reached by a flight of stairs, was neatly finished and painted white; above it was sus- pended a canopy or sounding-board, hexagonal in shape, about seven feet above the floor of the pulpit, with a screw at the top of the iron rod supporting it, so that its height might be adjusted to the proper distance for reflection of the sound. The arrangement was indeed stiff and awkward, and was often severely criticized. I remember hearing one clergyman - a man of large size - remark, that he would as soon get into a hogshead and preach from the bung. The deacon's seat was directly beneath the pulpit, access to it being had through the minister's pew. To resume the history of the parish: When their minister, Mr. Silliman, had served them a quarter of a century, some uneasiness began to manifest itself. A vote in April 1768, showed forty-seven "easy" and thirty-seven "uneasy" with him - but not long after they voted twenty-four to fifteen that they would employ Mr. Silliman no longer. Mr. Silliman appealed to the General Assembly at Hartford, and the Society appeared there by their representative. The Legislature sent a committee to see how peace could be restored, who advised Mr. Silliman to ask for a dis- missal, and in June 1772, he was dismissed. In the succeeding winter, Mr. Drummond, born and educated in Scotland, was settled as minister. He remained five years, and was succeeded by Rev. Justus Mitchell, who by his scholarship and devotion to his calling and to the cause of education, secured the prosperity of the entire com- munity, and gave the parish a desirable fame throughout the State. A spirit of toleration manifested itself, and the records show many instances of the release of persons, who preferred other modes of worship, from their responsibilities to this Society. The pews were rented to defray expenses and relieve from taxation. Mr. Mitchell died in 1806, and was buried by his sorrowing congregation, on the brow of the hill in front of us, and many will remember his grave, enclosed with a picket fence and overhung by a weeping willow.
We have now come to the period when a more complete separation of civil and ecclesiastical matters was made. The Town of New Canaan was incorporated in 1801, occupying the same territory over which "Canaan Parish" had held jurisdiction. The Congregational
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Readings In New Canaan History
Society henceforth devoted itself solely to the care of the temporal affairs of the Church with which it was connected, while the town managed the schools, the highways and similar matters. Briefly to complete the history of this Society. After Mr. Mitchell's death, the Rev. William Bonney was settled here from 1808 to 1831, was suc- ceeded by Rev. Theophilus Smith. During his ministry the present edifice was built, and it was dedicated in 1843. Mr. Smith died in 1853, after a ministry of twenty-two years. The successive ministers ' were:
Rev. Frederick G. Williams, from 1854 to 1859.
Rev. Ralph Smith, from 1860 to 1863.
Rev. Benjamin L. Swan, from 1864 to 1866.
The present pastor, Rev. Joseph Greenleaf, was settled in March 1871.
The frame of the first Episcopal Church in Canaan was raised May 13, 1762, on land obtained from Mr. Husted, about three-quarters of a mile northwest from the present church edifice. There had been a discussion respecting its location on or adjoining the Parade ground. The building was soon rendered fit for use, but was not completed for many years, and for that reason probably was never consecrated. At this time, the church people here were accustomed to attend service at Norwalk and Stamford, and the rates which were collected of Churchmen in this parish were paid over to the rectors of those churches. In 1791, they organized themselves into a distinct parish. From that time, there have been regular records kept. The first wardens were Stephen Betts and Dunlap Coggshall, and there were thirty-four heads of families who considered themselves as belonging to the church and contributed to its support. Services were held about one-fifth of the Sabbaths, but the church languished until the project was conceived and executed of building a new church edifice nearer the village. The lot whereon the present building stands was purchased of Mr. Richard Fayerweather. The building committee were Samuel Raymond, Edward Nash, David S. Knight. The build- ing was finished and consecrated, May 6, 1834. The old one had been taken down the year before. At this time the Rev. Charles Todd was rector, dividing his time equally between this church and the one in Ridgefield. He resigned his charge in 1835, and was followed by Rev. Jacob L. Clark, who also had care of both churches. After his
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A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan
resignation in 1837, Rev. David Ogden was called to give his undi- vided attention to this church. In 1842 ill-health compelled him to give up his parish, and he died in 1845. The succeeding rectors were:
Rev. William Everett, from 1845 to 1846.
Rev. Dr. Short, from 1846 to 1852.
Rev. William Long, from 1852 to 1855.
Rev. William H. Williams, from 1855 to 1858.
Rev. William Cook, from 1858 to 1863.
Rev. William A. DesBrisay, from 1864 to 1874.
The present rector, Rev. Isaac W. Hallam, began his services at Easter, 1875. The church edifice was remodeled and the spire erected during the pastorate of Rev. William H. Williams, and re-opened, May, 1858. In the winter of 1873-4, the interior was frescoed and two windows placed in the Chancel. The Sunday School was organized in 1853 under the superintendence of Miss Esther Betts.
The first mention of Methodist preaching in this town is found in a book by Rev. William C. Hoyt, of Stamford, wherein is recorded a Methodist sermon preached in the parish of Canaan by Rev. Cornelius Cook, in the year 1787. From 1816 until 1833, New Canaan formed a part of the Stamford circuit (which is the oldest in New England.) Services were held at the house of Holly Seymour, in White Oak Shade District, and frequently at the residence of Capt. Crofut in Silver Mine. The first Methodist preaching in the village was in the Town Hall then standing near the Episcopal Church and since converted into the present Congregational parsonage. In Octo- ber 1833, the first Methodist house of worship, which is the present Town Hall, was dedicated. From 1833 to 1836, New Canaan was united to Norwalk in a circuit under the pastorate of two ministers. These were:
1833, Rev. Elijah Hibbard, Rev. Abram S. Francis.
1834, Rev. Luther Mead, Rev. Abram S. Francis.
1835, Rev. David Stocking, Rev. John Crawford.
In 1836, New Canaan was set off by itself, as a station under the pastorate of a single minister. This denomination of Christians has made, within the recollection of most of us, rapid progress, endeavor- ing faithfully to do the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The present house was dedicated in 1854, December 21. The following are the
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Readings In New Canaan History
successive pastors of the Methodist Church and their terms of service:
Revs. J. Crawford, 1836; Clark Fuller, 1837; S. W. King, 1838-9; J. W. Selleck, 1840-1; Chas. F. Pelton, 1842; Jesse Hunt, 1843; Jas. H. Romer, 1844-5; A. H. Ferguson, 1846-7; J. D. Marshall, 1848-9; Jacob Shaw, 1850-1; L. D. Nickerson, 1852-3; Harvey Husted, 1854-5; Mark Staple, 1856-7; J. L. Gilder, 1858-9; C. B. Ford, 1860-1; A. H. Mead, 1862; Wm. T. Hill, 1863; J. M. Carroll, 1864-5-6; Wm. F. Collins, 1867; S. M. Hammond, 1868-9-70; B. T. Abbott, 1871-2- 3; I. M. Carroll, 1874-5-6.
The first person in New Canaan professing faith in Christ, through baptism by immersion, was baptized by Rev. John Gano of New York City, in the year 1772. Soon after as Elder Gano was baptizing in Stamford, where a Baptist Church was organized in 1733, Baptist meetings were held in New Canaan, and have been held at varying intervals to the present time. The records of the Canaan parish have several notes exempting Baptists from paying society rates so long as they remain of the persuasion. November 4, 1871, the First Baptist Society of New Canaan was incorporated. Their house of worship was opened February 6, 1773; the service of recognition being held in that house the 13th day of March following. Their pastor is the Rev. Eben S. Raymond.
Universalist preaching began in the town in 1832, Mr. Hillyer, and afterwards Mr. Hitchcock officiating. During the last five years Rev. J. H. Sheppard has preached here semi-monthly. They have no separate organization.
Services according to the Roman Catholic forms of worship were first held in a hall in the village, subsequently in the Town Hall. Their church was built in 1863. Clergymen from Norwalk, principally Fathers Mulligan and Smith, have ministered to those of this faith.
The patriotism of New Canaan citizens has been well attested in the three wars in which our country has been engaged. In the war of the Revolution, however, they appear as citizens of Norwalk and Stamford and share their glorious record. Our soil has never been invaded by a foreign foe. Norwalk was twice burned, and some of our friends shared the catastrophe, but the British troops when on their expedition to destroy the military stores at Danbury, passed eastward of us, both on their approach, and return to their boats at Compo Bay, east of Norwalk, and thence to their head-quarters on
A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan 29
The first of July 1640 30 Bought of Ponus Sagamore of Joquams and of Wajeuforie Jaga - more of Shippan by me nathanael Turner of Quineproche all the ground that Belongs to Both the above raid Sagamores. except a piece of ground which the aboveradio Jagamore of Joquans reserved for his and the rest of the fair Indians to plant on all which ground being express by me -downs upland graf with the rivers and trees and in Consideration hereof ?' the faid nathanael Turner am to give ( in) Bring or send to the aboves as. - Jagamores within the space of one month twelve coats twelve Rower - - -
twelve hati Rots, twelve glapes twee knives two Kettles four fathom of white wompum, all which fand Both We the faid Sagamore To promiles Faithfire to perform Both for ourselves Reis Execution on alsigns to the a tovi laid nathanael Finner of Querepioche to fs Reise Executed or afsign And hereunto we have fett cur marks in the presence of many of the Kid Indian they fully contenting hescurto
Vitreped by us William Wilkes James
i'mark of MV Poner Sagamore of mark of Wapenpour lagamon
Witnessed by two Indians the mark
the mark of
Owenske Sagamore Ponu', Som
por in part of payment 12 glades 12 thrives as courts
INDIAN DEED TO STAMFORD, 1640
The land originally included in Norwalk and Stamford was purchased from the Indians in three principal transactions, in 1640, by Roger Ludlow, Capt. Patrick and Nathaniel Turner. Parts of each of these three purchases are included in present day New Canaan. Note that the signers of the Turner deed, which covered the Stamford area, included Ponus and his son Oenoke.
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Readings In New Canaan History
Long Island. Some of our immediate ancestors were at Middlesex (now Darien), on Sunday, July 22, 1781, when an unarmed wor- shipping congregation, were in the most dastardly way seized and subjected to indignity. The leaders in that sacreligious foray were from among the tories of the town, and their depredations and cap- tures were practiced upon their former neighbors and friends. During the night preceding they had crossed the sound from Lloyd's Neck, and secreted themselves in a swamp a few rods south of the meeting house, awaiting the gathering of the congregation for their usual worship. The service had begun. Dr. Mather was in the pulpit which he had occupied for forty years, and it was undoubtedly his earnest patriotism, and that of some members of his church, which had led to this attack. Its object was to capture that fearless preacher and the leaders of his people. Suddenly the house was surrounded and the summons to surrender was issued in the well-known voice of their neighbor, Capt. Frost. Now commenced in earnest the work of tory revenge. With derisive jeers, the venerable pastor was called down from the pulpit to lead his congregation in a very different service.
The men of the congregation were drawn up two and two in marching order and tied arm to arm. The pastor was ordered to the front to lead the march. The valuable articles found on both men and women were stripped from them. Every horse needed for the invading band was taken, and the women and children consigned to the care of the rear-guard, until the captors with their prisoners and spoil should be well under way. Forty-eight men were thus hurried away to the boats, and thence taken over to Long Island. Twenty- four were released to return home on parole. The remainder were taken on board of a brig and confined below decks. They were thus conveyed to the Provost Prison, N. Y. City, where they suffered every possible indignity. Here they were kept until the following December, when those who survived were exchanged.
In the war with Great Britain in 1812-15, a few of our citizens were in the service, but engaged in no battle.
But in the last war - the war to maintain the Union and preserve the country whose centenary we this day celebrate, New Canaan citizens cheerfully entered the Union armies, leaving the pursuits of peaceful life to engage in the multitudinous battles of the greatest civil war in history. Some of these fell on distant fields. With others,
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A History of Canaan Parish and of New Canaan
life languished away in hospital or prison. The remains of some rest in our own cemetery - while the happy survivors witness this day the glory of the nation they aided in the time of its dire necessity - the Government whose stability and perpetuity they have helped to secure.
Among the early settlers of New Canaan were few men of literary culture. Neither the tempestuous times which had engrossed their earliest attention, nor their slender pecuniary resources had allowed them the advantages of any scholastic training. But the New England Fathers, (and our pioneers were among them,) saw that the only way to establish here, and perpetuate a Society which could satisfy their hopes, would be by means of a careful, thorough and general edu- cation of their children. The fundamental laws of the Colony required, under severe penalties, every town to provide means for the early instruction of their children. The statute reads: "The Selectmen of every town shall have a vigilant eye over their breth- ren and neighbors, to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, their children and apprentices, so much learn- ing as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein." It was still further provided, that "every town having fifty householders in it should, forthwith appoint one within the town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general." Among the earliest functions discharged by Canaan Parish, is the appointment of school committees. Where the first schoolhouse was built and when, cannot . now be ascertained. It was doubtless like their first meeting-house, exceedingly plain with no needless room in it, and no useless expen- sive adorning. At this day we can have no adequate conception of the extreme difficulty attending those early educational measures, but their influence on succeeding generations has been incalculable. For a more extended education, than that furnished by the common, or, as it is now termed, district school, no provision was made for many years. Rev. Justus Mitchell, who was settled in the ministry here in 1783, kept a select school during a considerable time. Eight young men from New Canaan, and a large number from other places were
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Readings In New Canaan History
fitted for college with him. Eliphalet St. John, Esq., who graduated at Yale College in 1791, devoted himself to teaching at his residence on Brushy Ridge, and though the school consisted mainly of young men from New York fitting themselves for business, still some citi- zens of New Canaan and adjoining towns, availed themselves of the advantages of this school. The New Canaan Academy was established in 1815, and the building erected in 1816. The teachers were successively:
Rev. Herman Daggett; Rev. James H. Linsley; Rev. John Smith; Dr. Samuel W. Belden; Rev. Dr. Milton Badger; Rev. Theophilus Smith; Hon. David L. Seymour; Pres. Julian M. Sturtevant; Rev. Dr. Flavel Bascom; Rev. Alfred Newton; Rev. John C. Hart; Rev. Wm. B. Lewis; Prof. Ebenezer A. Johnson.
This Academy, about 1834, was converted into a private boarding school, and was owned and taught successively by Messrs. Silas Davenport, David S. Rockwell and Rev. J. L. Gilder. The Academy was revived in 1859, taught by Rev. J. C. Wyckoff, for several years, afterwards by Mr. Thomas Pease, and was broken up during the last year of the Civil War. Twenty-five persons have graduated at Yale College from this town, a majority of whom would not have enjoyed the privilege of a collegiate education had not the Academy enabled them to fit themselves here. Besides these graduates a much larger number of young men were fitted for business. Young ladies also enjoyed in the Academy the advantages of a thorough course of study. It ranked second only to the churches in elevating the standard of moral and intellectual culture in the town.
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